What do you do on NEW YEARS EVE at WDW?

[Fantasia Sam]

I have no idea. Shirley gave a good idea of going around the world, any other suggestions?

Thanks for all your help with my last minute holiday I really appreciate it

 

[Muppet]

Being our first NYE we are going to PI Party.

 

[richard3330]

Hi Sam!!

We will also be at WDW for New Years Eve!! - we can't wait!!

Our plan is on getting up REALLY early and getting in to Epcot. I hear that it fills maximum capacity usually by 11am, so we are going to make sure we get there really early.We have made a PS for an early dinner at San Angel Inn.

In my opinion I think Epcot is definitely going to be 'the' place to be on NYE and the end-of-the-year firework festival should be amazing!!

Happy Planning!!

Richard

 

[Fantasia Sam]

I thought they let Disney guests in whatever the capacity? Is this not the case?

Richard is it really gonna be that bad I don't think I'd want to stay in EPCOT all day and all night if you know what I mean?

Oh well I guess I need to think about where to dine !

 

[Hilary]

Another vote for Epcot!

Sam, when we went out for NYE in 2000/01 we were planning based on the reported experiences from 1999/2000 which were probably exceptional. We were staying on site and checked in on 27th December, but even at that stage I had great difficulty finding out from Guest Services exactly what the policy would be regarding park opening times, resort guests admission guarantees, etc. For the first few days we were there I kept being told that Epcot would open at 9:00am as usual! It wasn't until only two days before NYE that someone finally said Epcot would open at 7:00am and there would be no special concession for on-site guests, or any provision for re-entering a park if you chose to leave for a break during the day. However, I understand that it's quite possible their policy on these things will change from year to year!

Anyway, we had a fantastic day in Epcot, depsite being through the turnstiles at 7:10am and staying put until after the midnight fireworks - DDs were practically asleep on their feet by then, but they still had a great time! There were lots of sound stages around the park, hooters, streamers, hourly celebrations around the world as each country celebrated their NYE at 'home' time, and general high spirits and bon homie (sp?).

Have fun planning

 

[Mazzy]

We are planning to go to EPCOT and I have booked 3 PSs to try and keep us going until midnight!

I don't know whether we will actually make it, but if not, we can just go back to the Dolphin and watch the fireworks from there.

 

[Paul and Shirley]

We were there last year and it was fantastic. Working your way around the countries is good fun - and the fireworks are amazing - we have never seen anything like that before.

We met friends of ours there who were staying offsite and they arrived at Epcot at 7pm and had no problems getting in. Although it was packed you didn't really notice it until everyone crowded around to watch the fireworks.

One thing to bear in mind is come midnight it did get very cold

 

[BevS97]

I thought they let Disney guests in whatever the capacity? Is this not the case?

we've been discussing this re Christmas Day, and apparantly on-site guests are just guaranteed 'a park' and not necessarily the one that they want - all recommendations seem to be to get to the park of your choice early and plan on staying there all day.

Bev

 

[CarolynU]

I have been out in the world for the past 5 years at NYE and my understanding is that the parks fill to capacity in stages ie firstly some guests may be turned away if the car park is full, then they are closed to all non hotel property guests and then to all guests if filled to capacity. If you exit a park you are not guaranteed re-admission.
Normally the MK fills up first, then Epcot and then The Studios. Last year Epcot did close around 4.30ish but it may have re-opened later on when young families may have left.
We exited MGM to go to 'Cirque' at Downtown Disney, and had no trouble re-entering at 10ish, but that is the park which usually fills last. We have never done PI, because the age limit is 21years on NYE and we still have teenagers.
This year I am not sure what to do. It can get VERY COLD as Hilary said, and I don't know if I can face any park from early a.m. till 1.00am. We may have a lazy day and just try to get in somewhere for the last few hours. Simon will of course be at Epcot, but as he will be working hard there seems little point in hanging around there just to see him LOL Sorry Simon!!!!!
Just be prepared to wrap up if need be. Last year and other years we have had to scrape the ice off the car before we could leave. Carolyn

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Another vote for Epcot from me Sam.
We were there for the Millennium and that was the party to end all parties!

Not sure whether the policy changes year on year, but we were told that on-site guests are guaranteed admission to a park, but not necessarily the park of your choice.
Get there before 9:00 am and you should be ok.

It is a long day, but the atmosphere just builds and builds throughout the day. There are plenty of different forms of music all over the place with live bands and discoes. The fireworks at midnight are something else.

It's great celebrating New Year many times as the various countries hit midnight local time. The UK was wild at 7:00pm. I don't suppose that the British Invasion have ever had a larger (or more appreciative!) crowd.

Kev

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
I think it would be hard to find a better place to spend NYE than World Showcase.We were there last year and had a great time going from country to country to celebrate their New Year.It was very busy though and at one point during the day when we were in Future World we noticed that Test Track had a wait time of 210 minutes!!
Have a great time.

Mick.